Boot and shoe holding tree



P 1 c. G. HILTON 2,385,272

BOOT AND SHOE HOLDING TREE Filed Oct. 11 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Charles GHiIfion INVHVTOR.

HJSAi'TORNE):

Sept. 18, 1945. c. e. HILTON BOOT AND SHOE HOLDING TREE Filed Oct. 11, 1943- 2 Shee t s-Sheet 2 I Charles 6171125012 INVENT OR.

Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UN 1T ED STATES PATENT O F F ICE 2,385,272 Boo'r AND snon HOLDING TREE Charles G. Hilton, AmarillmTex. Application October 11, 1943, Serial No. 505,828

'11 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in boot and shoe trees, and is a continuation-in-part of my copend-ing application Serial No. 422,572, filed December 11, 1941.

It'is the tendency oi boots and shoes that have been stretched Or adjusted to the pecularities of an individuals foot to return to their original shape unless retained in the stretched or adjusted position when not in use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a boot or shoe tree that will hold the boot or shoe to which it is applied in conformity to the stretch or adjustment that has been made to meet the individual requirements of the wearer. A further object of the invention is to provide a device that is adaptable for holding the toes of shoes or boots in a widened position; for holding the instep portion of the shoe in a widened position. and for holding a lengthening strain on the shoe without a progressive widening action being present. The invention includes the use of ibunion pieces which are insertable at various points on the device to take care of any irregularities of the foot by retaining such parts instretched condition.

.IAnother object of the present invention is to provide a boot or shoe holding device that is simple in construction, easy and positive in operation and economical to manufacture.

.A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view ofthe device with dash lines indicating the toe stretching action;

vFig. 2 is a similar view, with parts broken away and in section to show details of construction;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, with dash lines indicating the movement of the stretching links, and a shoe shown in dot and dash outline;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

, Fig.5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1; i

. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective View of the sliding guide members;

Fig.7 is a perspective View of the wedge member, removed, which engages the sliding guide member;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of an instep stretcher removed from the device;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the bunion piece removed from the device;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation thereof; and Fig; 11 is a view of the link or tie member removed from the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals l and 2 designate a pair of stretching members arranged in complementary relation and preferably shaped to conform with the toe portion of a shoe. The stretching members I and -2 have a pair of spaced holes 3 and 4 at each opposite end thereof in position to receive a connecting hook or link 5 (Fig. 11) which may be engaged selectively in either pair of holes. Thus the members I and 2 will be connected together at one end only thereof, the opposite end being free for expansion as indicated in full lines and in dash lines in Fig. 1. When the connecting hook or link 5 is engaged in the holes 3 the opposite end is free to be spread laterally, and likewisewhen the hook is engaged in the holes 4. If desired both ends may be left free so that the foot membersmay be urged outwardly freely to fit, the shoe as desired.

Provision is made ior spreading the members I and 2 relative to each other, for which purpose, each of the members I and 2 has a guide mem ber 6 pivotally attached thereto by means of rivet I. The guide members 6 are telescoped together, one being inverted relative to the other for longitudinal sliding interfitting relation, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Each of the slide or guide members 6 has laterally disposed slots 8, '8, therein in position for transverse alignment to receive, for transverse sliding movement, a wedge I0. Slots II and II at the outer ends of the slots 8, 8, receive one of the out-turned ribs 9, 9* formed on the wedge -l 0, for longitudinal movement when the two members 6 are telescoped together. Therefore, the spreading or expanding action of the foot members is dependent upon the lateral sliding of the wedge ;l0 sliding within the overlapped lateral slots 8 and 8, while ribs 9, 9 engaging in slots H, H, prevent the sides of the wedge from moving laterally relative to the members 6, with which it is engaged.

- The members I and 2 are preferably formed of pressed metal; however, they can be made of any suitable material. A tongue l2 on the member 2 engages in slot I3 so as to guide the memhers I and 2 to and from each other. The slot is of sufiicient length to permit a relative pivotal movementwhen the link 5 is engaged in holes 3 or 4. i i

The wedge l0 has out-turned flanges II at the end thereof to prevent its disengagement from the sliding members 6 when in retracted position. When in retracted position a link 5' (Figs. 1 and 5) similar to the link 5, engaging in holes I5, may be used to lock the wedge 10 against longitudinal movement when it is desired to put a strain or lengthening action on the boot or shoe instead of a widening action.

The rear portion of the wedge I0 is provided with an upwardly extending portion l6 having a slot H which extends into the horizontal part of the wedge. A heel bar 18 isadapted to be inserted through slot l1 and for this purpose the slot I1 is of greater length than the width of sbar l8 and of less width than the width of the bar. This arrangement permits insertion of the bar It through the slot l1 and its adjustment by means of notches I9 in the edges of the bar. By turning the bar in aligned position with the wedge member, the two members may be interlocked in the adjusted relation. A toggle action, as indicated in Fig. 3, may then be obtained by pushing down the upstanding part IS.

The heel bar l8 may be used in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, or it may be reversed as shown by the dash lines therein. This reversibility permits use of the device in a shoe or boot with a high arch, such as a high heel shoe or a cowboy boot, and the toggle action is obtained in either position. The wedge and the sliding members have sufficient clearance to permit an up anddown motion of the wedge member Ill as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

The members I and 2 are provided with rectangular recesses in the sides thereof to hold bunion pieces 2| for applying localized stretching to the shoe as may be desired. Such recesses may be provided in the foot members, along the instep and in the heel portion of the device. While any form of bunion piece may be utilized, it is preferable to use one having an eccentric configuration such as shown at 2| in Fig. 9. When the recesses are punched from sheet metal the inturned edges will serve to grip the neck 22 of the bunion piece 2| as will be evident from an inspection of the heel portion disclosed in Fig. 5. Obviously, by providing the bunion pieces with square shanks to fit square or rectangular recesses, a turning motion is prevented.

The upper sides of the foot members I and 2 are provided with rectangular slots 24 to receive lugs 25 formed on an instep stretcher 23 to apply additional pressure to the instep of the boot or shoe. A shoulder 26 is formed on the instep spreading means including guide members connected with the stretching members and. extending transversely thereof in longitudinal overlapping relation, and means having slidable relation transversely of. said guide members for causing lengthwise movement thereof relative to each other.

4. A shoe holding device comprising a pair of elongated stretching members, said members haV. ing a pair of opening in each opposite end thereof, a link detachably and selectively engaged in the pair of openings at one end of said members and stretcher 23 to bear against the upper portions of the foot members I and 2, as additional support therefor.

The notches IS in the heel bar l8 lock in the upwardly extending portion l 6, thus preventing a side-swinging motion of the heel bar on the wedge member [0 when strain is applied to them.

'I claim: 7

1. A shoe holding device comprising a pair of stretching members, means connected with the members for causing lateral spreading movements thereof, a thrust member connected with said spreading means for operating the same, and a second thrust member extending lengthwise of the first mentioned thrust member, and means for detachably interconnecting the thrust members together.

2. A shoe holding device, comprising a pair of stretching members, and means for applying a spreading action to said members, said spreading means including guide members connected with the spreading members and extending transversely thereof in longitudinal overlapping relation, and means having slidable connection transversely of said guide members for causing lengthwise relative sliding movement thereof to adjust the stretching members toward and from each other. I

3. A shoe holding device comprising a pair of stretching members, 'rneans pivotally connecting the members directly together at one end thereof for lateral swinging movement, and means for applying a spreading action to said members, said pivotally connecting the members together at said end, and means for applying a stretching action to said members.

5. A shoe holding device comprising a pair of elongated stretching members, said members having a pair of openings in each opposite end thereof, a link detachably and selectively engaged in the pair of openings at one end of said members and pivotally connecting the members together at said end, and wedging means intermediate the length of the members for applying a stretching action thereto.

6. A shoe holding device comprising a pair of stretching members, guide sections each con nected with one of the stretching members, said guide sections having laterally overlapped portions, said overlapped portions having a guideway therein, and a wedge member engaging in said guideway to apply a spreading action to said stretching members.

7. A shoe holding device comprising a pair of stretching members, guide sections each pivoted to one of the stretching members, said guide sections having laterally overlapped portions, said overlapped portions having a slot therein, and a Wedge member engaging in said slot to apply a spreading action to said stretching members.

8. In a shoe holding tree, a pair of complementary foot members, a guide including sections telescoped together and connected with the respective foot members, said guide having an elongated slot therein with offset slot portions at opposite ends of said slot, and a wedge slidable longitudinally in said slot and having offset flange portions at opposite edges thereof, engaging in the offset slot portions.

9. In a shoe holding tree, a pair of stretching members, means connecting the stretching members together, a wedge member having wedging engagement with the connecting means upon longitudinal movement of the wedge member, a

heel piece connected with the wedge member, and means for locking the wedge member against longitudinal movement relative to the connecting means. I

10. In a shoe holding tree, foot and heel stretching members having longitudinal shank portions, one of said portions having an upwardly extending end and having a slot therein, the other shank portion being of greater width than the slot and having serrated opposite edges, the last-mentioned shank portion extending into the slot.

11. In a shoe holding tree, foot and heel members having longitudinal shank portions, one of said shank portions having an upwardly extending end and having a slot therein, and the other shank portion extending into the slot and having means thereon of greater width than the slot for holding the shank portions in assembled relation.

CHARLES G. HILTON. 

